Tidbits 12/20

USA Today is running a poll on its Life section homepage about who your FAVORITE American Idol is. Clay and Carrie are in a virtual dead heat... so get voting, Claymates!

• Austin American-Statesman names "Invisible" #3 American Idol song -

  3.) “Invisible,” Clay Aiken. Yes, yes … Clay is scary. But the song is pure gold. There’s just no disputing that.
  

• Sturgis Journal - Clay Aiken to star in "Spamalot" - "Clay Aiken (Season 2) made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical Monte Python’s “Spamalot” before embarking on a sold-out holiday tour."
  
• Sports Features - Clay mention in write up about Holiday Celebrations on Ice:

  Christmas Day, December 25 at 3 p.m. in all time zones NBC Sports presents the Capital One Holiday Celebration on Ice from The Orleans in Las Vegas, Nev. with music provided by Clay Aiken.

• Atlanta Journal Constitution on a new American Idol game on toy store shelves -

  The "American Idol Talent Challenge"(at left) ($49.99, Tech 2 Go)
  
  Singers can duet with popular "Idols" including Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken or go it alone busting out songs like "Can't Help Falling in Love" or "Satisfaction." For kids 8 and older.

• AJC/Access Atlanta ... small AI sales report... "Clay is at 521K"
  
• Nashville City Paper - Chris Daughtry article ...

  If your measure of success is strictly numerical, then Daughtry’s done better than any other male contestant except Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, and finished just behind Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
  

• Hollywood Reporter story about Diane Warren, who worked with Clay on MOAM -

  Warren, a self-professed workaholic, had a busy year, also penning tunes and working with such acts as [...] Taylor Hicks, Meat Loaf, Clay Aiken, Aerosmith, Pet Shop Boys, Frankie J and Ashley Tisdale, among others.
  

• Toledo Blade - article about former AI2 competitor -

  Everyone knows the heroes of American Idol's second season: Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. But don't forget about Toledo's contribution to the pop culture phenomenon. Start High School graduate Candie Coleman - a feisty brunette with a big voice who was known to viewers as Candice - was one of 32 semifinalists that year.
  

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Midwest Business -

  For those of you who can’t wait for the return of “American Idol” in 2008, your Christmas blessing has arrived in the form of Clay Aiken. The cheeky pseudo-star and recent appointee to the Bush administration’s U.S. Department of Health & Human Services arrives on Saturday night in Merrillville, Ind. to perform at the Star Plaza Theater.

• Southtown Star
• Oregon Live needs to clean its ears because Clay's "O Holy Night" does most certainly not belong on the "Worst Christmas Music" list ... "Clay Aiken: A voice unraveling."
  

• The ConCLAYve - Clay to spend Christmas with UNICEF in Mexico -

  This Christmas season, UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken will not be on a skiing holiday in the French alps. He won't be relaxing around the fire at his North Carolina estate. Realizing that UNICEF never takes a vacation, he has decided to spend his Christmas with the children and families displaced by the floods. He will be traveling to Mexico this weekend, at the conclusion of his fourth Christmas concert tour.